User talk:ARoseWolf

Welcome to my Winter Wonderland! Some general things to know about my Talk page... If you write me here I will respond here. If you write me on your user talk page then please tag me there so I may respond there. If a discussion is begun in one location then please keep it there for the sake of continuity. I may move discussions to keep them in one place when they are related. I will archive discussions regularly but no longer than 6 months at a time so if you don't see a particular discussion please look in my archives before alerting me. I have some rules on my talk page I would appreciate being observed by everyone: be kind, be nice, and be understanding. Honesty is important and how you feel is valid but if you are upset by something I have done or said or something said here by others then please step back, take a deep breath, and approach me calmly- I'm totally willing to listen and will admit if I have made a mistake and apologize, especially, if I have offended you! Sometimes it may take longer for me to reply. If a few days pass without a reply, please forgive me and send out a search and rescue team to find me. I undoubtedly fell into a hole somewhere. I will respond as soon as it is humanly possible for me to do so. My talk page is regularly monitored by helpful Talk Page Watchers and Wiki-friends. They may comment or offer assistance from time to time and their presence is both wanted and appreciated. They are my guests as long as they don't eat all my cookies. :) Please note that it is 6:40 AM (-9 UTC), where I live. This page is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox but may cause some issues for viewers using mobile application. I am posting this statement as a courtesy for mobile users and to let them know I will work to find a solution.

INDEFINITE BREAK ARoseWolf is on an indefinite break from Wikipedia. I will decide whether to return editing or not at some point. I may still get online to read or respond to others queries over time and if applicable. I will not go into specific reasons for this break and leave that for you if you decide to research it if you wish. Just know it is Wiki related and my decision was formed over multiple discussions concluding with this so no health fears. My cancer has not returned. I am well. I love you, you are in my thoughts and keep singing your song. Maybe we will meet again.

Talk Page archive: 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2027 2028

My turn to keep an eye on things around here.

Interesting story

I had an interesting experience yesterday evening, and I thought right away about sharing it with you. At this time, I'm taking a brief vacation in the house that I grew up in, as a child. Usually, I live in a city, but this house is in the suburbs. Not rural at all, but suburban. Anyway, last night as I was finishing dinner, I looked outside the window, and there was a doe standing there, not ten feet away from me. I'm pretty sure she couldn't see me through the window, but I stayed still and watched her. She was kind of thin, and struck me as having an ancient and "wise" look about her face. She very carefully ate the weeds that I had been thinking about weeding out, myself. She cleared out the weeds, and left the ornamental plants entirely alone. That selectivity was remarkable. The scientist in me decided that the weeds were plants that grow here natively, whereas the ornamentals are probably "exotic", and therefore less palatable to her. She did this for a while, and then was gone. I'm a much less spiritual person than you are, but I think this is a story that would have meaning for us both. --Tryptofish (talk) 16:58, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

Tryptofish, I call it "Spiritual" because I really don't understand it. I don't go looking for anything. I don't really care if anything happens or not and I don't seek attention from it. It is so much a part of my everyday that I'm used to overlooking it unless it grabs my attention. In reality I just think it's a light energy/life essence type something that's part of the universe we don't understand. Yes, a pseudo-science of sorts that I cant explain. I have a sensitivity to it much like some people have sensitive smelling, hearing or sight. I just hear and see with different ears and eyes. There is more to us than we naturally see. I could go on with stories of encounters with animals that blew my mind when I had them. People too. I have run into LifeSongs who have spoken to me as if they know me yet we have never met before. Or maybe we have. Spiritual connections? Or just that our essence contains notes from the very old Songs of the beginning of existence and time and space. Maybe these vibrations resonate at frequencies that, at times, draws us together and, at others, pushes us apart. Like the tides of the ocean. Idk, maybe one day we will become enlightened enough to know for sure. If "God" exists I would think of this being as more of an orchestrator, someone who created the laws of life, seen and unseen, and let's us live within that sphere as best we can, being the Rainbows of Light and Song with the goal of reflecting Love and Charity into the Life of others. --ARoseWolf 17:25, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

I'll be the first to admit that I'm far from understanding everything. And "the goal of reflecting Love and Charity into the Life of others" is a goal we all should share, regardless how we get there. --Tryptofish (talk) 17:28, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

And yes, Tryptofish, your experience does mean very much to me. I'll try not to get emotional. It reminds me that distance is something abstract. That I am not alone, a feeling I have lived with for long periods in my life. That we are more alike than we are different and that's comforting. There is something about going home, any place we formed memories. I did that once and stood where my mother gave birth to me. Just an old wooden structure that was falling apart. But to me it might as well been a crystal palace where all my thoughts and dreams and memories, the colors of my Song, exploded into this world. Love and Charity. We must get there, Tryp. We have to push for this in life. We can lose focus and see the darkness. The best of us do. But we are light bringers, and the dawn follows us. --ARoseWolf 17:44, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

August music

story · music · places

Today I have three "musicians" on the Main page, one is also the topic of my story, like 22 July but with interview and the music to be played today -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:25, 8 August 2024 (UTC)

I bet you like the rainbow in the latest pics - click places. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:09, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

On 13 August, Bach's cantata was 300 years old, and the image one. The cantata is an extraordinary piece, using the chorale's text and famous melody more than others in the cycle. It's nice to have not only a recent death, but also this "birthday" on the Main page. Thank you for you told Buster! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:48, 13 August 2024 (UTC)

That cantata is absolutely extraordinary. I did love the rainbow pic and the laughing cat. It really made my day. Thank you for you, Gerda. You are joy to visit with every day. --ARoseWolf 16:11, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

An invitation

You accidentally prompted me to start User:Timtrent/Kindness as an SOP, and I have jotted some 'stuff' down. This invitation is an early one to you to ask for help in shaping this prior to opening it up for wider scrutiny. Please come and have a crack at it! Obviously your talk page watchers are welcome too! 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 14:16, 9 August 2024 (UTC)

An invitation to a U.S. Mountain West online meeting

Wikimedia US Mountain West

The Wikipedia users of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming are invited to an online meeting from 8:00 to 9:00 PM MDT, Tuesday evening, August 13, 2024, at meet.google.com/kfu-topq-zkd. Anyone interested in the Mountain West or the future direction of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia movement is encouraged to attend. There is no obligation to participate and all guests are welcome. Please see our meeting page for details.

If you don't wish to receive these invitations any more, please remove your username from our Wikipedia:Meetup/US Mountain West/Invitation list. Thanks.

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 00:52, 10 August 2024 (UTC)

Jumped into a lake...?

I have the feeling I'm going to learn something fascinating if I ask, so if you don't mind - why did you jump into a lake? StartGrammarTime (talk) 02:23, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

StartGrammarTime, let me first say that you gave me a good laugh when I saw your question this morning. Yes, I jumped in a "lake", it was actually a shallow stream that runs into the lake but we typically bathe in the stream. We use natural soap (I make the soap myself) that is eco-friendly. We get our potable water from the stream too (upstream). It's a glacial stream cut by receding glaciers thousands of years ago. Now it is just runoff from the melting snow cap so it is particularly cold, even in Summer. We have very little humor around here and we take our editing very serious, often too serious. I thought it was a fun way to interject that I , in fact, had jumped in a lake, on purpose and not to harm myself. --ARoseWolf 12:37, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

Well, I'm certainly very glad to have made you laugh! Jumping into freezing cold water is meant to be good for you - but even the idea makes me shiver so I'm happy to leave all the benefits to you...it sounds lovely to have your very own stream/lake though.

Maybe we ought to propose a new Fun Fact Policy - if you want to edit something and be Extremely Serious about it, you have to put a fun fact about yourself/your life/something that interests you in the edit summary - or maybe if you want to post on a 'drama board' you have to have a fun fact, and it has to be new each time? That would have the dual purpose of slowing down posts and also making us all more aware that we're all humans. I think we're onto something here!

(Fun fact: yesterday I left my house, which I almost never do due to chronic pain, and when I came back the birds literally came down from the trees to sing to me...okay, it was because they wanted me to put out seed for them, but I've decided I'm an honorary Disney princess anyway. They're normally very stand-offish but they flew to my feet and it was magical!) StartGrammarTime (talk) 12:47, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

StartGrammarTime, you are a princess, radiant and beautiful. I love to see nature react to us, especially to watch the relationship we have with those Songs. Nature recognizes the Song in each of us. Sure they wanted seed from you but you did the kind act of offering to begin with. Your kindness resonated with them and they offered you their Song in return. It is truly magical.

I think it is a great idea. I'm thinking of creating a subpage where those that visit my user page can leave a fun fact about themselves or tell the community one detail from their day or perhaps something funny related to recent editing. I'm all about building community relationships. I think it helps us get in touch with the human side of the encyclopedia. These are not just words, but experiences. --ARoseWolf 13:09, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

Asareel, I love that you make me laugh even before I have finished my 1st cup of coffee! I saw on my watch list the heading of this and had to see what it was all about. I spent last evening hoping for another glance at Opie. If you want to see his/her picture, I think she is adorable, look on my talk. She and her mom live in our urban back yard and my cats aren't even interested in them. Although they hunt lizards frequently, for some reason iguanas and possums are not prey. I find that totally fascinating. Thank you for you. SusunW (talk) 14:08, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

I so needed this laugh this morning. It is so difficult at times when I see so much hurt and I know a little empathy goes a long way. Why is it so difficult for some to show empathy? I remind myself they do not see what I see. I thought seeing with ears was typical for everyone when I was a child yet I know that not to be the case now. I try to help others listen by sharing my experiences and allowing them to share theirs. I do get frustrated. I do want to just recede into my corner of the world and be unheard sometimes. I am human but this is not my nature only a response to the pain and hurt. I just want you all to know how much your work here and your stories and Songs impact me daily. You are my Rainbows. I live your experiences and the experiences of the ones you write about through your words. I am thankful for you. --ARoseWolf 14:33, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

I saw Opie...adorable. MY cat is more interested in chasing bears (no kidding) than chasing mice. She's feisty like me. lol --ARoseWolf 14:36, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

Your timing is perfect... I am lying awake thanks to my meds and The Pain (it deserves the capital; it's an entity of its own at this point) and needed a reminder of the eternal song that weaves through us all. You gave me a smile, which is a true gift to me. I am quite sure you're a warm, glowing rainbow too.

A subpage sounds like a great idea - I am tempted to start one myself with kind and encouraging words for those who might be discouraged, sad or anxious as they try to edit. Open for all to add to, naturally! It would be for the newbies who had their draft declined after working on it for hours, the people who got snapped at when they were doing their best, and the oldies struggling with burn out... and everyone in between. What do you think?

@SusunW - would you please tell Opie and their parent that I love them? The pictures brought me another smile, so thank you for taking and sharing them! StartGrammarTime (talk) 16:15, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

StartGrammarTime I knew Asareel would love Opie, but so many people are scared of possums. No clue why. She's tiny right now, not as big as my hand. I am glad Opie made you smile. Smiles don't take away pain, but certainly make it easier to bear. Asareel, I learn so much from writing the stories I write. I am glad they are beneficial to others. I have the deepest respect for you and joy at knowing you exist in this world. SusunW (talk) 16:39, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

StartGrammarTime, know that the Pain IS TEMPORARY. I know Pain (with a capital P). It is very familiar to me. At one time so familiar I was almost friends with it. I was so accustomed to feeling it and it never left. From the time I was a child I went from Pain to Pain. It became overwhelming. Imagine a child that begged for death and peace that comes with it. There are children, people, humans the world over that have suffered with Pain so often, like me, they becomes friends with it and simply wait for death. We can learn from their stories, their experiences. I am a Rainbow, I am a promise, as my grandmother said. It is not anything I do but what I do for the benefit of others, my humankind, that makes me so. Even when my humankind hurts me in return, it causes me to push harder and drive further to be more than my individual Colors allow.

I tell you a quick story. I was going from Haines to Juneau on the ferry and met a man from India who told me the purpose in life is to become enlightened, to gain understanding of higher planes of existence. I pondered that and responded that simply gaining an understanding the higher plains exist is not the purpose, it is the results of the purpose. The purpose of Life is the smile that touched your face, the laugh that Susun felt resonate through her body, the possum Opie and mother possum, the birds whose Song lifted your spirit, princess, the momentary relief of a Rainbow taking your Pain away. This is the highway to enlightenment and it comes from being available to see the Colors in others and allowing their Song to become part of your own. Life is in the details, we just need to slow down and listen. --ARoseWolf 17:28, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

Yes, yes, yes! Totally agree Asareel. The purpose of life is having the experiences that expand our knowledge. SusunW (talk) 18:56, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

As I've recounted (in maybe too much clinical detail) on my talk page, about a year ago I was experiencing the kind of Pain that did indeed make me think seriously about death. I am incredibly fortunate in that my condition was successfully cured, but I will never forget what it was like, and I will always remind myself to empathize with anyone less fortunate than I was, as indeed so many people are. Reading everyone's comments here, I just want to say that, no matter your suffering, you are valued and loved. --Tryptofish (talk) 21:14, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for sharing, Tryp. I'm glad you came through your Painful situation. This place, my experience and life would be less enriched if you were not part of it. --ARoseWolf 12:43, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

Toby the Cat

Toby lives outside. He is not homeless as he has many homes he visits throughout the neighborhood. But my building is his base. He once was an inside cat but his owners, tenants of mine, let him out one day, he tasted freedom, and now scorns entering any doorway. He just arrived (at 6AM) to check his dish which another tenant fills daily. Empty! I told him to go catch a city rat and eat it this time instead of dropping it off, decapitated, in my yard. He looked at me and walked away, insulted that I asked him to actually eat his prey. I didn't want to tell Toby that his former mate, Amy, was passing away upstairs. See, the former jerk tenant, that I had to evict for non-payment of rent, had four cats. Toby, his mate Amy, and two of their kittens that were adults. The jerk tenant completely abandoned the three inside cats leaving it to me to call the Anti-Cruelty Society to pick them up for adoption since they were good cats. They came but we only found two. Two weeks later, Amy jumped out of a hide-a-bed we were dismantling for discard and went to hide. For weeks she hid (not to well since we knew where she was) on the enclosed back porch, We LET HER BE, as instructed by the Beetles but she didn't eat food or drink we put out for her. On day she was gone! I left windows open and figured she jumped out one and went to join Toby in the Great Outdoors. Sadly that was not the case. A few days ago, my first floor tenant tells me he has been hearing mice in his bathroom ceiling. Knowing there is an access panel to the 6' foot tub and that I had opened it weeks ago to start a repair that was now on hold, I knew it was Amy. As I write this, Amy is in the throws of death. I can't get to her, poor thing. I dropped some wet food down to her and water but she is comatose...still breathing but barely. If I could I would end her pain but I can't reach her to help. Toby doesn't Know. I haven't told him. Maybe Tommorrow. Buster Seven Talk (UTC) 11:43, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

Our cat Starr (named after Ringo) doesn't know either. I don't think I will tell him!!! Buster Seven Talk (UTC) 11:51, 15 August 2024 (UTC)